A/N: So, as requested, here's the next chapter. I'm glad that everyone is pleased with the way things are going. I was a bit hesitant to go on with the idea. Nevertheless, let me know what you all think of this one :)
"How to Lose a Socialite in 10 Days"
II – 'This table is for high rollers only, sir'
Logan Huntzberger, son of a multi-millionaire, heir to his family's fortune and media conglomerate was all one would expect from the successor to a veritable playboy empire – although he did not show it. Logan was definitely the playboy, however, and assumed the role without indignation – rather, he enjoyed being the bane of so many; it was all a just a game anyway.
"…so I says, 'no thank you Miss Marple, but I'll be happy to show you around my bedroom'!" a voice cracked and the group surrounding young Logan erupted into laughter.
"Oh Finn, when will you learn? You can only ask a girl to see the boudoir on the third date – minimum. You're coming on way too fast otherwise," one boy corrected.
"My dear Colin, I believe we have established Miss Marple to be somewhere in her late forties. If I hang in for the third, she may be dead!" recoiled Finn and again the group spluttered into fits of chuckling.
"Yes but letting her snoop around in your bedroom is probably unwise – she is a private eye, right?" Colin persisted, the group now settling somewhat.
"Indeed, she is… but what have I got to hide?" Finn rejoined, smiling proudly.
"Remember our trip to the Bahamas?" Logan asked, smiling at Finn, "weren't you the one with the-"
"Alright!" Finn snapped, "We don't need to bring up that little surprise… besides, won't I be kicking myself if I don't show her what's in my pa-?"
"Finn, FINN! Let's leave some surprises for the ladies… and keep those surprises from ever surprising me," Logan interrupted, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
Finn looked slightly taken aback, "oh come on Huntzberger! You've been there plenty of times. Just to get a lass in the ol' sack," he nodded.
"Yes and no – when did this become the Spanish Inquisition?" Logan replied, smiling.
"Oh it isn't mate. I'm just trying to gauge how it's done by a professional of sorts," Finn returned, folding his arms all the while, "I mean it's about time we got in on the Huntzberger technique".
"There's nothing to it," Logan answered, smiling around the table at the faces intently listening to him, "all you gotta do is know when it's over and be ready for it".
"So you're saying it's all worked out on when you want to call it quits?" Colin asked, leaning forward slightly.
"No," Logan chuckled, "that'd be far too easy. I let them make the decision".
"You get them to give you the ol' heave ho?" Finn spluttered, wide-eyed, "I'd never have believed it if I didn't hear it from the man, himself!" he confessed. A nodding of agreement went around the group like a Mexican wave.
"It's simple. I pick them out, lock them in, have a grand ol' time and then, when the time is right, set them free back into the wild," Logan smiled, making gestures of birds with his hands, "it's one of my greater schemes".
The group laughed, "care to put a wager on that?"
Logan looked up at Colin, "a wagering of just how much?"
"Oh… let's make it worth your while and say ten," Colin offered.
"Blimey," Finn interjected, "ten is a fair bit".
"Alright, ten it is," Logan agreed, shaking hands with each member of the group, "wait… how about double or nothing?"
Colin looked over at Finn and then at Logan, "double or nothing?"
"Yeah, let's make this truly interesting… give me ten days and I'll find your girl, make something of it and in time, she'll have dropped me like the L.A. Times!" Logan suggested, smiling happily all the while.
The group chuckled, "you've got your double or nothing Huntzberger!" Finn cried.
"Of course, you are aware of what's at stake here, aren't you?" Colin questioned, looking seriously at Logan.
"I'm aware that you guys are going to need to come up with twenty in ten days…" Logan smirked. The group laughed again.
"You just worry about the girl and I'll have your cheque signed and ready for the cashing," Finn professed, "of course, there'll have to be some rules…"
"Yes, of course," Logan agreed, "to what am I bound to?"
"She has to dump you," exclaimed one member of the group.
"There has to be at least three dates to prove you and your missus have got something going," Finn added.
"She's got to be a Yaley," another member contributed.
"You've got ten days and the clock is ticking…" Colin concluded, "and that'll be all that's stopping you".
"Then it's settled gentlemen," Logan smiled, "you're all about to be witness to the great and ever so infamous Huntzberger technique… just be prepared to have your wallets feel that much lighter soon!" The group chuckled amongst themselves.
"But we'll just win it all back at the poker game!" Finn teased and the group roared into a fit of laughter again.
"Oh 'ha ha'," Logan rebuked, "my poker exploits have nothing to do with this".
"With a money back guarantee like this, how can I lose?" Finn laughed, "cash in hand; money in the bank!"
Logan rolled his eyes, "well, if this lunch is over, I believe I best get started on collecting my winnings".
The group applauded Logan as he bowed gracefully, "thank you gentlemen for your time and for being so gullible".
"Oh it's no problem," Finn added, "I love it when my investments mature".
"But this investment is immature," Colin mocked and the group laughed again.
"Just don't let your cheque signing hand get too cold," Logan retorted, smiling in his trademark way.
Somebody's watch beeped.
"I suppose it is that time again," Colin resigned, rising from his chair.
"Class already?" Finn whined.
"We are supposed to be getting an education," Colin said pointedly.
There was a silence and a pause as the group exchanged glances. Then more hysterical laughing.
"Oh that's rich," Finn replied, wiping his sleeve across his eyes.
Logan greeted the group and shook hands with his close friends, departing the table and the great dining hall of Yale. Intermittently, he could pick up some conversation from the people around him. Logan considered himself highly astute and perceptive. His mind was not on the class he was going to, in fact, he had no intention of attending such a class at all – his mission was ultimately very clear; he had to find his date.
"…and Professor Asher Fleming… my word! Doesn't that show you what smoking can do?" one girl spoke. Logan brushed past the table, appearing concerned with where he was going but in actuality, listened intently for an interjection into a conversation.
"…these mash potatoes are sooo creamy!" another girl squealed. Clearly, the playing field in the Yale dining hall was not as diverse and easily pounced on, as he was used to.
"…ugh that's nothing- I've got a report on Socialism due in three hours and I haven't even read the compulsory material!" yet another girl stated proudly.
Logan quietly scanned the room, ignoring now, any sort of conversation and decided to try 'Plan B', attacking the lone prey.
Most girls where crowded together in small groups, which Logan was entirely unafraid of but he needed a reason to make an appearance with most of them. It was useless walking up to a group of girls at Yale, despite who you were, if you had nothing important to join the conversation with.
And then he spotted her.
Sitting alone, ever so quietly at a window, in the light of the midday sun, at a table for two. It was almost as if God had presented him with deliverance.
He rushed over, not too quickly that he was noticeable, but hurriedly enough that he'd get there in time.
She couldn't see him. Her back was faced to him. Her head and shoulders slouched over what appeared to be a textbook, a cardboard coffee cup, steaming somewhat, sat on the table before her. Her long brown hair draped comfortably atop her head.
Logan shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled in his trademark way. Sorry, he thought, you've just made me twenty-thousand dollars richer and you'll never know.
"Excuse me," he asked politely, "I was wondering if you could tell me where to get the best coffee around here".
The girl looked up at him dejectedly, "uhhh there's a dozen coffee carts on campus… there'll the same… just pick one," she answered, before lowering her head back down to her reading.
"Well, I was asking for your opinion," Logan persisted, considerably annoyed by the girl's response.
She looked up once more, "coffee is coffee… I'm busy".
"Busy doing, what?" Logan asked smartly.
The girl cocked her head slightly, "I've got lots of work to do and an article to write… which is more than I can say for you… just buy a cup of freakin' coffee and get on with your life".
"That's no way to ask me out," Logan replied, smiling in his trademark way.
"Listen Huntzberger… I've heard about you! I know who you are and just because your family is important and- and… I know you!" the girl recoiled sharply.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you… however, I'm glad my reputation precedes me," Logan professed, extending a warm hand to the girl.
Momentarily, she seemed to be mulling over continuing the conversation before she placed her hand in his and shook, "Paris Gellar, pleased to meet you".
"The pleasure," Logan replied, "is all mine," and he sat in the empty seat before her.
Just having entered the dining hall, Rory Gilmore spied Paris and Logan seated together, talking, it appeared, quite happily with one another.
"This is not what I meant by 'helping me' Paris," she whispered aloud.
A curly haired boy seated next to Rory raised an eyebrow.
Rory blushed and shrugged her shoulders before resuming her attention upon Logan and Paris.
A/N: Yeah, I know it's not exactly 'heating up' at the moment but these early chapters are just to establish the story. Don't worry; it's going to get very dicey in the near future! I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible (read: hopefully tomorrow). So yeah, just let me know what you think.